Close ratio gearing will usually give better performance as long as there are enough of 'em in the box. If you take a 5 speed unit and shorten 2,3,4 and 5 then a sixth on top as a cruising ratio is nice. Having said that, whenever I've driven six speeders I generally stay in 5 anyway as it allows more immediate acceleration if you need it.
Autos are also much better with more ratios asit makes up for the slight losses that even current automatic boxes still incur.
I think Lexus and Mercedes have up the EIGHT speed automatics now.
Another interesting one is the CVT with infinitely adjustable gearing. Nissan's effort was quite impressive the the Primera back in 1999 ish but it was crap when you drove it hard. Not that it didn't go - much the opposite but the bloody racket at 6500rpm whenever you shoved the pedal down was unbearable. |